High "Steaks" on Roads of Goa, Locals and Tourists not "Amoosed".
"Udder" failure of Goa Stray Cattle Management Scheme. Impounding cattle costs Rs.35,000 per head. Rs.20.33 Crore doled out to buy cattle in last 3 Years, without ensuring proper shelter for them.
Driving on the roads in Goa is just like completing an Obstacle Course.
Where at most of the places there are potholes, or roads being dug up, or tarmac even missing; the obstacles compound because of the stray cattle menace.
While Goa sees an average of 1 Death everyday on the roads; how much is this in effect of the stress of drivers compounding everyday due to stray cattle everywhere, is something to be debated strongly.
The omnipresent problem in Goa, both for locals and Tourists, but they are certainly not a problem for those traveling with escorts in a cavalcade. While the cattle “moove” like lords; the problem can be seen by all, but no one in government seems to "herd" them.
The Goa Stray Cattle Management Scheme was started in 2023, 10 Years back; when the menace had already reached such grave proportions that Government was forced to initiate the scheme, after being alarmingly “cowcerned”.
This is 8th month of 2023 and still almost on all the roads of Goa, exterior or interior, it is impossible to drive, without witnessing stray cattle roaming around on the road or sitting, wherever they please, in whatsoever manner deemed fit by them.
Baga and Calangute are the most famous beaches of Goa, where Lakhs of Tourists descend every year. On the entire stretch from Baga to Calangute and Candolim; be it day or night, stray cattle rules the road.
Even after 10 years of Stray Cattle Management scheme, the local MLA has been found pleading with the government to take care of the menace.This stretch of roads are not only narrow, but have a very high vehicular density, owing to it's popularity.
What is surprising that, neither the Panchayat nor the villagers have any clue, as to whom the Cattle belongs to.
Stray cattle menace is not limited to crowded beaches or towns; the problem persists even in hinterland; where there is no dearth of vegetation. Stray cattle is a menace even in towns like Valpoi of Sattari Taluka (which has been in the news a lot recently).
From 2017 to 2021, Government of Goa spent Rs.7.35 Crores to impound 2,093 stray cattle at the expense of Rs.35,000 per animal.
Still the menace continues unabated. Why?
Data available with the animal husbandry department shows that only 13 village panchayats and three municipal councils have inked agreements with the animal welfare organisations and gaushalas to impound stray cattle in their jurisdictions.
More organisations are not coming forward; because of the stiff requirements of GSCM scheme, regarding the lease of land. With the sky high rocketing prices of the land; it is not feasible at all, to procure land on lease for such scheme.
Also, the timely payment of dues, from the local bodies and Municipality or Corporations is the biggest deterrent, even if someone wants to engage in this bovine and gentle act.The rampant form of corruption in the local bodies, make sure that no one wants to bell the bull.
Usually the cattle are released out in the open after they become unproductive, usually cows. But this is not the case usually; as among all the major roads; one can see young calves; after each mating season, accompanying their mothers, on the road. Which means, stray cattle on the stray are, not "stray".
Also, a bunch of cows would have the calves accompanying them of the same age/size; all male, which means that these cows were artificially inseminated at the same time; by the owner.
In the last Goa Legislative Assembly Session, which lasted for 18 days, several questions were raised on the Stray Cattle menace in Goa by legislators; and the reply served by Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho would make even the cows and bulls laugh.
With “udder” confidence the Minister and hence the government has admitted that there is just no stray cattle menace in places, where it is exorbitant, while in other places, the numbers being mentioned are so low, that it would make even a Tourist laugh.It seems the Government of Goa, does not provide it's employees, including Ministers with a Cowculator.
Clearly, if this data has been garnered through local Panchayats; then there are clearly living in abject denial; in order to escape any further cumbersome responsibility; while locals and Tourists suffer not only great inconvenience in their daily commute, but also, grave danger to their lives.
If the Panch and Panchayat do not know, to whom the cattle belongs then this is a big blot on their functioning.
But can the Government of Goa really not find out, to whom these cattle belong to?
Yes, they can find out, very easily.
In the last 3 Years alone, 3,134 Cattle have been purchased by 601 People of Goa under the "Kamdhenu Scheme". It involved grant of more than Rs.20 Crores to these beneficiaries. The cost comes out to Rs.6.5 Lac per cattle.
Even a cursory audit, by the Government of all these beneficiaries, to whom Rs.20 Crores were doled out, would prove, whether they have proper places for rearing cattle, including cowsheds; or they buy the Cattle and let loose them on the roads of Goa?
Incidentally, Government of Goa also provides an infrastructure Loan of up to Rs.1 Lac, under the scheme, for which a separate application needs to be made and the process along with documentation is way too cumbersome.
Under the scheme, the cattle purchased are supposed to tagged with RFID, on reaching the cattle shed; but whether this being strictly followed and monitored is a big question mark.
It is utmost surprising, that in the Kamdhenu Scheme; why it is not mandatory to provide the evidence of suitable cowshed, for the animals; first, before allotting the scheme money? Commonsense suggests that, specially with rising Cattle menace, but the scheme which was refurbished or modified this year itself, fails to do it.
If, 2,093 Cattle have been impounded from 2017 to 2021; how come new cattle come on the road, every year, with impunity.This while assuming that impounding is still going at the same pace, if not more vigorously.
While The Tourism Minister, Rohan Khaunte is changing the PR agency of Goa Tourism, in order to make Goa the preferred destination of Wealthy Tourists; to lure them away from destination like Dubai, Bali and Ibiza; however it is about time that Rohan Khaunte seizes the moo-moment and address stray cattle roaming along on the road, endangering lives of Tourists and openly defecating on the shore.